Castro to Speak at Huge May Day Rally - 900 Union Leaders From Around World*** HAVANA - Hundreds of thousands of Cubans poured into the country's main plaza Thursday for a May Day celebration that aimed to defend the island's socialist system against criticism from abroad. "We workers are gathered here to tell the American empire that we are not afraid, in spite of their lies," Jose Rego, a 66-year-old gardener in a straw hat, said shortly before the ceremony began at Havana's Plaza of the Revolution. Waving a poster of a young Fidel Castro in one hand and a red, white and blue Cuban flag in the other, Rego declared: "The Cuban people know how to defend the just cause of the working class."
Cheers erupted as Castro, wearing his typical olive green uniform and cap, arrived and took his place alongside other communist leaders. The Cuban president was to speak later Thursday. "Long live May Day! Long live socialism! Long live Fidel!" declared Pedro Ross, secretary-general of the Cuban Workers Confederation, as the event began. Organizers said 1 million people were expected at the Havana rally, including more than 900 union leaders from around the world - 160 of them from the United States. Smaller gatherings were being held in other Cuban cities. ***
Cuba's Castro Says U.S. Is Provoking War *** HAVANA - Fidel Castro accused the United States of wanting to attack Cuba, speaking at a May Day celebration on Thursday that aimed to defend the island's socialist system against criticism from abroad. "In Miami and Washington they are now discussing where, how and when Cuba will be attacked," the Cuban president told a crowd of hundreds of thousands gathered for the celebration in Havana's Plaza of the Revolution.
"I want to convey a message to the world and the American people: We do not want the blood of Cubans and Americans to be shed in a war," he said. The crowd responded with cries of "Whatever it takes, Fidel!" while waving handheld Cuban flags. One group hoisted an effigy of President Bush that read, "Bush: Don't mess with Cuba." ***